A new study has documented the first observed instance of flexible, multi-purpose tool use in a domestic cow, challenging previous perceptions of cattle intelligence. Researchers observed Veronika, a 13-year-old Swiss Brown cow in Austria, using a deck brush to scratch herself, adapting her technique and tool selection based on the body area. This type of advanced tool use has rarely been documented in the animal kingdom, having previously been shown primarily in humans and chimpanzees.
Background and Initial Observations
The subject of the study, Veronika, resides in mountain pastures in rural Austria. Her owner, organic farmer Witgar Wiegele, first observed her using sticks for self-scratching over ten years ago, when she was approximately three years old. Wiegele reported that Veronika recognized family members' voices.
The cow's unique behavior eventually drew the attention of scientists from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna after video footage emerged.
Scientific Investigation and Findings
Cognitive biologists Dr. Antonio Osuna Mascaró and Alice Auersperg from the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna conducted systematic behavioral tests. Their findings were published on January 19 in the Cell Press journal Current Biology.
During their investigation, researchers presented Veronika with a deck brush. Observations revealed that Veronika could pick up the brush using her tongue, reposition it, and secure it with her mouth. She then deliberately manipulated the tool to scratch various parts of her body.
Specific observations included:
- Tool End Selection: Veronika consistently favored the bristled end of the brush for broad, firmer areas, such as her back and backside. For more sensitive or delicate regions, including her udders, belly, and lower body areas, she switched to using the smooth handle end of the brush.
- Movement Adaptation: She adjusted her movements, using wider, more forceful motions for the upper body and slower, more controlled movements for lower, sensitive regions.
- Purposeful Manipulation: Researchers noted that Veronika's choices of tool ends and targeted body regions were consistent and functionally appropriate, indicating a purposeful and adaptable application of the tool. Her actions meet the definition of tool use, which involves manipulating an external object to achieve a goal through mechanical means.
Implications for Animal Cognition
The study's findings suggest that the cognitive abilities of cattle, and potentially other livestock animals, may have been underestimated. Flexible, multi-purpose tool use, where different features of the same object are utilized for distinct functional outcomes, is considered a complex behavior. Prior to this study, such behavior had been convincingly documented primarily in humans and chimpanzees.
Dr. Osuna-Mascaró indicated that the historical perception of lower intelligence in livestock might stem from insufficient observation by behavioral scientists. Robert Shumaker, an evolutionary biologist not involved in the study, confirmed that Veronika's actions unequivocally constitute tool use.
Contributing Factors and Environment
The researchers hypothesize that Veronika's specific life circumstances contributed to the emergence of this behavior. Factors cited include:
- Age: Her relatively long lifespan of 13 years provided ample time for skill development.
- Environment: Veronika lives as a pet in a stimulating and complex environment, with access to numerous natural and landscaping objects and extensive daily interaction with humans.
- Motivation: It is hypothesized that the desire to deter horse flies and scratch bites may have motivated the development of her self-scratching abilities.
Dr. Auersperg noted that livestock animals are often understudied in terms of behavior and cognition, with research predominantly focusing on production aspects.
Future Research and Public Appeal
The research team is now investigating the environmental and social conditions that enable such behaviors to emerge in livestock species. They also suspect that tool-using abilities might be more widespread than currently documented in cattle.
The scientists encourage individuals who have observed similar purposeful tool use in cows or bulls to report their observations to assist future research efforts.